After my marriage collapsed, I had no one left to lean on. With my unborn child growing inside me, I swallowed my pride and took every job I could get, doing whatever it took to keep us alive. When labor finally began, I drove myself to the hospital, one hand locked on the steering wheel, breathing through brutal contractions at every red light.

The deafening crash of the steel doors echoed through the massive foyer.

Red emergency lights began to flash frantically across the walls, casting terrifying shadows everywhere.

"I rigged this entire estate with military explosives months ago!" Eleanor cackled like a madwoman.

Julian stood beside her, panting heavily while holding his bloody combat knife.

Sterling quickly pulled me behind a thick marble pillar to shield the baby from any gunfire.

"I apologize for my harsh words earlier, I had to disarm them psychologically," Sterling whispered.

I nodded quickly, completely understanding that his ruthless bluff was the only way to save my son.

"We have exactly three minutes before this entire building vaporizes," Eleanor yelled triumphantly.

Sterling's guards desperately tried to pry the heavy steel doors open, but they were completely locked.

I forced my exhausted brain to focus, recalling the architectural audits I had done on this exact property.

Julian had hidden his stolen money by claiming expensive renovations on this abandoned mansion.

"There is an old prohibition tunnel hidden beneath the wine cellar," I told Sterling urgently.

Sterling's eyes widened with hope, and he immediately ordered his men to follow my lead.

We sprinted down the grand hallway, completely ignoring Julian's furious screams behind us.

I found the heavy wooden door leading to the basement and kicked it open with all my remaining strength.

We rushed down the dark, dusty stairs into the expansive underground wine cellar.

I frantically searched the brick wall until I found the loose mortar joint I remembered from the blueprints.

Sterling smashed the bricks with the butt of a heavy rifle, revealing a dark, narrow escape tunnel.

We crawled into the damp earth, moving as fast as physically possible while I shielded my baby's face.

I could hear the electronic timer beeping aggressively through the floorboards above us.

We finally burst out of the tunnel and collapsed onto the wet grass near the edge of the property.

The Billionaire Put On a Waiter’s Apron to Test His Fiancée, but the Wom...

My father bet twenty dollars that I would walk through his front door al...

My Husband Slapped Me Out of His House for His Mistress, Then the Most F...

Just as we thought we were entirely safe, a dark figure stepped out from behind a large oak tree.

Julian was standing there, holding a silver lighter over a thick trail of poured gasoline.

Chapter 7 - The Vault Trap